How to temporarily disable outboards (for anti-theft)

[BaitMaster]

Be anal, and lock the boat to the dock with a chain .

Don't you want to make your boat seen, draws some attention to it?
1) Put a dozen of those battery powered lights (people use them for jogging, on their bikes, and on their kids (Halloween being this week and the stores will be clearancing these lights for cheap) around the boat (on the T-top) engine. I have a couple on my boat (not worth a fraction of what anyone else's boat is worth, but it helps keep people off my boat).

2) Isn't there a boat tilt/trim lock to secure the outboards up and out of the water (for trailering) Not going to get far with the outboards locked in the up position.?

3) a battery powered, key pad remote Alarm with a built in motion sensor (purchase at any hardware and some even have a remote), and keep it below the water line where it won't detect in motion from boat movement, or someplace where it won't be seen (I keep mine in the cuddy with my rods and reels).

4) The Club.. I haven't tried this myself, but the club, chain your steering wheel (turned all the way to the port) to your seat (and may locate a locking nut for your steering wheel).

5) After fishing, leave some dead smelly bait, fish parts, on the steering wheel and on the seats at/around the helm. (nothing fresh or the birds will get it). You can leave it on little plastic, so you can easily remove it in the morning.

6) (I'm still using Carbed outboards). when you are done for the day, remove the fuel line and run the motors dry (FOG THEM). It might be difficult for you to start when you return, but at least it will still be there.

I'm just say'n...

[nausetlight]

Sink it at the dock, they'll never get it.....

[nausetlight]

The best way to protect it would be to sleep aboard!! they'd need to take you also......hardwire the kill switches to ground thru another switch, throw the switch and the kill switch goes to ground, boat no start!!

[solarfry]

Originally Posted by dcathey

I ike the steering wheel idea. I may go take a look at that tommorrow to see how long that takes

Don't lose the inset key or you won't be able to steer with wheel. I must admit I like this idea for boats on the water.. But then the right wrench will solve this problem and they are off driving with a wrench on the stub.

It seems a determined thief will defeat any efforts to prevent boat theft..

[dcathey]

Obviously we arent going to sleep on boat or sink it but I do appreciate all of the good advice. We are going to use a comb. of these ideas and devise an anti-pirate plan. Also we are looking at getting some sort of GPS tracking that way while they are towing away boat or figuring out how to push through all of our methods of deterrent we may be able to get some authorities in on the hunt

[dcathey]

Anyone know how to add a reliable quick disconnect section to the fuel lines so that we can take the fuel lines to the house in addition to chaining and a kill switch. We will be in a marina(not super busy) but we still want to go extra mile.

[Tireless]

Don't go to the Bahamas.

[gerg]

Originally Posted by dcathey

Anyone know how to add a reliable quick disconnect section to the fuel lines so that we can take the fuel lines to the house in addition to chaining and a kill switch. We will be in a marina(not super busy) but we still want to go extra mile.

I assume you mean gasoline? That will be tough. It might be easier to put a lock on the shut off valve or put the valve in an out of the way place.

[UaVaj]

Leave a note on the helm.

If you DARE take it - make a nice reef out of it. I do not want it back. Enjoy.

[spokewrench]

Why not just go somewhere else, not noted for crime

[TTaxi]

You might apply a little sticker on the hoods and dash saying
"Theft Protection & Recovery Of this Boat & Equipment
Provided By The Medellin Cartel Assurance Co.
Any Information Leading To Apprehension &
Dismemberment Of Thieves & Their families Rewarded Obscenely"

They might reveal their presence guffawing as they tow the boat away.

I would think NOISE and flashing bright lights, lots of NOISE & lights, are the only things that might give the determined thief pause. But adding a covertly switched ground wire in the + ignition circuit on the engine might slow the quicker getaway.

Perhaps you could hire someone to watch the boat overnights?

[dcathey]

We are going to the bahamas becasue my buddy's family has a home there. Obiviously we were concerned about the situation down there and are only trying to keep their boat safe.

[Shark1007]

The battery brain devices worked out great. They turn power off by a remote control and would be a pain to diagnose for a thief.

[fishie1]

Leave your mother in law on the boat.

Not married? - you can borrow mine . . . .

[bsmit24]

Originally Posted by nausetlight

Sink it at the dock, they'll never get it.....

A friend of mine pulls the drain plug and turns the fuel off when he puts his boat on the lift. A couple of punks early one morning tried to steal the boat so they let it down into the water and made it out into the bay before the engine killed and the boat began to sink. He had already reported it stolen so they were rescued and arrested all at one time.

[Jzo6505]

You can wire a hidden switch into the same circuit as the kill switch. When you leave the boat flip the switch and it will not let the engines fire.